TABLE OF CONTENTS In the past, companies considered, the vibration analysis program as the mainstay of the predictive maintenance philosophy. However, with technical improvements, sophisticated laboratories and portable equipment, oil and wear particle analysis is starting to yield benefits and financial returns. The method is now rapidly growing as a desirable predictive maintenance technique that should be complementary to vibration analysis.
Implementation of an oil analysis program can significantly reduce maintenance costs for a production plant and can also improve plant reliability and safety. Oil analysis used for condition monitoring should have a baseline established. When joined with significant historical data, it provides very valuable information about machinery health.
The costs of a properly implemented program should be recoverable through the extension of lubricant change intervals. Increased reliability, availability, the prevention of unanticipated failures and less downtime are added benefits.
